Entertaining British Reality TV Show Has Interesting Characters

By Kedem Har-Shalom

Five teams, each consisting of two people, are dropped off at a landmark in a major world city. Their mission is to be the first team to reach a finish line 10,000 to 15,000 miles away after passing through eight checkpoints, including the final destination. The contestants are not allowed to use airplanes, high-speed rail, smartphones, or credit cards. They are given a limited cash budget that does not cover all of their expenses, meaning they need to find jobs along the way. That is the premise of the British reality show Race Across the World.

All of the contestants come from the United Kingdom, and the show features people from a variety of racial and cultural backgrounds. Each team consists of people who have an existing relationship with one another, whether they are family members or close friends. The struggles between the members of each pair are well documented, both during the trip and in their lives before the race. The show also explores family conflicts, personal challenges, and some of the various conditions and disabilities experienced by the contestants.

Another major challenge is the limited budget. While some contestants are good at budgeting and are comfortable with more basic forms of travel, such as hitchhiking and camping, others have difficulty adjusting to those conditions. Some contestants spend more money than they should and eventually find themselves struggling financially or even having to leave the race.

One of the show’s most memorable participants was Sam Gardiner, who appeared in Season 2. He was 19 years old and traveled with his mother. The show discussed his struggles in school with ADHD and revealed that he had recently been diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Some of his behaviors could also be interpreted as being consistent with autism, although the show never stated that he was autistic, so that should not be assumed as a diagnosis.

Sam appeared to struggle with some of the conditions of the trip more than many of the other contestants. For example, while traveling by bus in Panama, he repeatedly complained about the lack of air conditioning. Later, in Bolivia, his mother became tired of accompanying him while he searched for food that he liked. Sam eventually went out on his own and found a restaurant serving spaghetti and lasagna, two foods he enjoyed.

That reminded me of a time when I traveled to Russia with my family. When the restaurant we visited did not have the soft drink I wanted, I wandered off on my own for about an hour to look for it. Like Sam, I also have a strong aversion to heat and sweating. Sensory sensitivities involving temperature, clothing, sounds, textures, or other environmental factors can affect some autistic people.

Eventually, Sam’s mother had to learn that focusing too much on their budget was making the experience more difficult for them. Unfortunately, they eventually had to drop out before the final leg of the race.

A More Inclusive Version

I would like to see a new version of Race Across the World designed specifically for people with various sensitivities. These sensitivities could be related to autism, medical conditions, anxiety, or other circumstances that can make certain environments and activities particularly challenging.

Such a version of the show could be more inclusive by making reasonable accommodations for contestants’ needs while still giving everyone a fair chance to compete. The basic rules could remain the same, including no airplane travel and no smartphones, but there would be some important changes.

For example, the contestants would not have to compete with an extremely limited budget. They would not receive an unlimited amount of money either, but they could use whatever personal funds they have available. This would remove some of the financial pressure that can make certain challenges more difficult for people with specific needs.

Another possible rule could address situations where one contestant has a particular aversion that would put them at an unfair disadvantage. If an activity is considered essential to the race but would create a significant disadvantage for one participant because of a documented sensitivity, that activity could be prohibited for everyone. This would create a more level playing field rather than giving one contestant an advantage or forcing another person into an overwhelming situation.

The show could also replace the requirement to find jobs with educational and cultural challenges. For example, contestants could be required to visit at least three UNESCO World Heritage Sites during each leg of the race. Another option would be requiring them to visit three or more locations listed as a top destination in a certain travel book.

Volunteering could also be included as a requirement, but only if organizers can find opportunities that accommodate the various needs and sensitivities of all the contestants. The goal would be to challenge everyone without making a particular person’s disability or sensitivity the reason they cannot compete.

I think this type of show could provide an interesting look at how people with different needs navigate unfamiliar environments. It could demonstrate that being inclusive does not necessarily mean eliminating challenges. Instead, it means designing challenges that allow everyone to participate and have a genuine opportunity to succeed.

Remembering Sam

Unfortunately, Sam’s story did not have a happy ending. A couple of years after Season 2 aired, Sam died in a car crash at the age of 24.

His time on Race Across the World remains memorable because viewers got to see both his personality and some of the challenges he faced. His story also raises an important question about how reality television can create opportunities for people with different needs while making sure they are given the support necessary to participate fairly.

A more inclusive version of Race Across the World could continue to provide the adventure, competition, and interesting personalities that make the original show entertaining while also demonstrating that people with different sensitivities can take on major challenges in their own way.